TUCSON - Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik was thrust into the spotlight to face a nation demanding answers in the aftermath of the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. He didn't mince words.
The rampage, he said, grew in part from extreme political rhetoric, bigotry and hatred, especially in his home state of Arizona. Dupnik said he was angry and heartbroken over the tragedy, and was simply speaking his mind as an American, not a law enforcement official.
But in the midst of a national media pressure cooker, his comments raised the question: Did he overstep his authority in making the comments that he did?
His bluntness made the plainspoken lawman a national spokesman of sorts for the belief following the rampage that the country's political rhetoric has gone off the rails. Dupnik said he never intended to do so, but thought it was "time somebody said something."
"I'm a police officer trying to do his job, but on the other hand I'm a person who has to live in America like everyone else," he said in an interview with The Associated Press. "It's a free country, people can say what they want, and I said what I wanted to."
Regardless of his intentions, Dupnik - who turns 75 on Tuesday - has inserted himself into the national political debate and become one of the Internet's most talked-about people. He has refused to back off his statements after taking heat for rushing to judgment about the shooting.
E-mails began pouring into his inbox shortly after his first news conference on the day of the shooting. Some agreed with him, while others vented anger about him and Democrats. Some Republicans have accused him of wrongly using his bully pulpit to make an ill-timed political statement.
"I just felt like it was too bad that he would jump right into that mode when people are just now receiving some of the worst news of their life," said GOP Rep. Trent Franks of Arizona.
Dupnik's comments resonated with many at a time the nation was searching for answers after a rampage that wounded the Democratic congresswoman and killed six people. Friends and authorities said 22-year-old suspect Jared Loughner had radical and bizarre political views, but his motivation is still not clear.
Dupnik believes that the cacophony of talk radio, 24/7 cable news and Internet message boards created an atmosphere that allows violent acts by unstable people to take root.
"When you look at unbalanced people, how they respond to the vitriol that comes out of certain mouths about tearing down the government. The anger, the hatred, the bigotry that goes on in this country is getting to be outrageous," Dupnik said at a news conference broadcast live nationwide about eight hours after Saturday's shooting.
"And unfortunately, Arizona, I think, has become sort of the capital. We have become the mecca for prejudice and bigotry," said the sheriff, a Democrat who considers himself a close friend of Giffords. Also killed in the shooting was federal Judge John Roll, also a close friend.
The son of a copper miner, Dupnik grew up with his five brothers in the former mining community of Bisbee in southeastern Arizona when "life was simpler."
There was no telephone or television in his house until he was in high school.
Dupnik delivered newspapers as a teen and worked three summers in Bisbee's mines while in college. He joined the Tucson police department in 1958 after realizing he couldn't fulfill his dream of becoming a professional baseball player and because he needed to make some money.
He's been a lawman since then, with 30 years as Pima County sheriff.
"People say they found him when they settled the city and he's been here ever since," said Trent Humphries, co-founder of the Tucson Tea Party. "He's been sheriff a very, very long time."
Humphries said he doesn't think the sheriff is a bad guy but that he should not have spoken so openly about a potential motive in the shooting. He said the sheriff's comments led to dozens of e-mails to Humphries telling him that he and his family should have been the ones killed and that Humphries has blood on his hands.
"I think that he was in grief and pain, and had he thought through what he was doing and saying, he would have realized the consequences it would have on other people," Humphries said. "It's ironic and unfortunate him saying things like that caused even more hateful speech and division."
Tony Estrada, sheriff of neighboring Santa Cruz County on the Mexico border and a friend of Dupnik, said he didn't see the sheriff's comments as political.
"This is something that happened on his watch," Estrada said. "It's obvious that he was upset by the whole tragedy and expressing his feelings as a human being, and I don't think there's anything wrong with that. I think that's a normal reaction to seeing people senselessly murdered."
He said the sheriff has always been opinionated, and that comes from five decades in law enforcement.
"He has always gone out and taken a strong position when he feels there's an injustice and when laws are not appropriate," Estrada said. "He has strong convictions and won't hesitate to bring them forward. He gets criticized, but as long as he feels that he's doing the right thing, he has no problem."
Dupnik has lambasted Arizona's gun culture in the shooting's aftermath, calling out Republican lawmakers who have worked hard to relax gun laws in recent years. Concealed weapons are now allowed in bars for licensed carriers, and lawmakers are proposing that students and teachers be allowed to have weapons in schools.
"I think we're the Tombstone of the United States of America," Dupnik said. "I have never been a proponent of letting everybody in this state carry weapons under any circumstances that they want, and that's almost where we are."
He also has opposed the state's controversial new law cracking down on illegal immigrants, criticizing it as "born out of bigotry." His views have made him sort of an "anti-Sheriff Joe Arapaio," his hard-line counterpart in Phoenix.
"It put a target on the backs of 2 million people in Arizona who were here legally and have been here for generations, many of them," he said.
He also talked about how he was a beat cop back in the 1960s and how they put mentally ill people into a system that incarcerated them. "Today they're out on the street and we're paying the price for it," he said.
Dupnik, who has been married to his second wife for 31 years and has six daughters, doesn't plan on changing, and suspects his opinions soon will be yesterday's news.
"I don't think anybody ever heard of Sheriff Dupnik until Saturday," he said. "In a few days I'm sure people will forget who Dupnik was."
Slabside posted at 4:59 pm on Mon, Jan 10, 2011.
"It's a free country, people can say what they want, and I said what I wanted to." One thing you didn't want to do obviously was never following up on this kook's several brushes with the law.[thumbdown]
LinMesa posted at 5:00 pm on Mon, Jan 10, 2011.
So, it's just the Republicans that are upset about his words. I wonder why. I don't remember him mentioning anyone specific. He was simply telling it like it is and I applaud him for saying it. It's way past time someone did. Do you suppose they are feeling a little bit guilty? It's time everyone stop this. It serves no purpose and is degrading to the ones that do it. Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh are laughing at you people all the way to the bank. Why do you think they say such outlandish things? They are just saying what you want to hear and the more people that watch and listen to them the more money they make.
Carolyn posted at 5:07 pm on Mon, Jan 10, 2011.
Sheriff Dupnik should not have to defend his comments - what he said was profound and the absolute truth. Arizona needs to wake up - I'm a native, a senior citizen, and am thoroughly embarrassed by the right-wing NUTS who run most of this state.
jakebrake posted at 5:10 pm on Mon, Jan 10, 2011.
This man should be removed from office. He is a law enforcement officer and should not political statements when performing his duties.
NotFondOfLibs posted at 5:20 pm on Mon, Jan 10, 2011.
The Sheriff is supposed to be conducting a criminal investigation not rendering a poltical opinion that we can read in a newspaper. His comments about Arizona as a mecca for prejudice and bigotry are not worthy of an elected official for Arizona.
az2008 posted at 5:35 pm on Mon, Jan 10, 2011.
When Republicans pandered to insurrectionary violence, trying to get elected from a base threatening violence if they didn't get their way, using slogans and imagery about treason and "Second Amendment remedies" it's no wonder an imbalanced person could feel validated.
That's what happened 15 years ago during the "Republican Revolution." Between '93 and '95 Republicans fanned growing rhetoric about uprising and legitimacy of armed resistance. The NRA talking about "jack-booted thugs" and G. Gordon Liddy urging his listners to "aim for the head -- they wear kevlar vests."
In '95 we had the Oklahoma bombing and Arizona train derailment. In '97 we had Mary Rose Wilcox shot by a misguided "patriot" over taxpayer funding of a stadium.
Republicans tried to claim they had no responsibility. Not their fault McVeigh wore a shirt to the bombing with the common rhetoric of the time: "The tree of liberty is watered by the blood of patriots and tyrants."
That's what's amazing. They pandered to narrow interpretations of tyranny, treason and revolution back then. They validated it. And they didn't learn a lesson. Just like then, they're trying to distance themselves. It was great when it was politically beneficial to them. When it turned ugly, "we didn't do anything wrong."
IMO, this looks like a stolen election. Rs used an angry mob threatening violence. They played into it with symbols and slogans. They validated the individuals who said "we came unarmed... this time."
Consider Harry Mitchell. He was forced by threats to meet his constituents over a phone bridge. Then the fringe Right erected banners surrounding Mitchell's campaign signs saying "Hides from voters." His Republican opponent (Schweikert) never criticized the tactic.
Stolen election?
IceCat posted at 5:37 pm on Mon, Jan 10, 2011.
So JakeBrake by your line of reasoning the Sheriff's of Maricopa and Pinal should also be removed from office.
I will give you a clue, the position of Sheriff is a elected position thereby making a political position.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 5:38 pm on Mon, Jan 10, 2011.
It must be the difference in elevation, the tap water or something that causes these Tucsonites to trash their State. Last year we had Tucson Democrat Congressman Raul Grijalva calling for the tourism boycott of Arizona. This year we have Tucson's Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik shooting off his mouth about this trajedy and pointing the finger of blame to the vitriolic political rhetoric consuming the Country and the anger, hatred, bigotry that somehow Arizona is the capital of this madness. "We have become the mecca for prejudice and bigotry". But this isn't the first time that he has trashed Arizona. He has also trashed Arizona for the passage of SB 1070. He said he had "no intention of complying. I think the law is one of the worst pieces of legislation I've seen in 50 years, racist, disgusting and unnecessary...If I tell my people to go out and look for A, B, and C, they're going to do it. They'll find some flimsy excuse like a tail light that's not working as a basis for a stop, which is a bunch of baloney". Obviously, Sheriff Dupnik doesn't think very much of his own department to make a statement like that. Could you imagine the "hue and cry" from the left-wing/liberal local TV news channels and newspapers if Sheriff Joe Arpaio had utter those words? No way. There is a double standard with how the media treats Democrats vis a vis Republicans. Just look at the way CNN, ABC, MSNBC has attacked Sarah Palin regarding this shooting trajedy. Our local and national uber-liberal press must be sharpening their anti-gun laws and anti-illegal alien laws as we speak.
Patriotic posted at 5:51 pm on Mon, Jan 10, 2011.
Dupnik the dipschidt...what a sorry excuse for an impartial officer of the court. This buffoon should be a rentacop at the mall. Arizona deserves better than a clown that apologizes for Arizona. Maybe he has been watching OBAMA do the same thing???? The killer is now a typical Arizonian? Dupnik...go back to Poland...
rrjenn posted at 7:12 pm on Mon, Jan 10, 2011.
Now I understand why the sheriff has been laying the blame for the Rep Giffords tradegy. Jared Loughner has been making death threats by phone to many people in Pima County including staff of Pima Community College, radio personalities and local bloggers. When Pima County Sheriff’s Office was informed, his deputies assured the victims that he was being well managed by the mental health system. It was also suggested that further pressing of charges would be unnecessary and probably cause more problems than it solved as Jared Loughner has a family member that works for Pima County. Amy Loughner is a Natural Resource specialist for the Pima County Parks and Recreation. Every victim of his threats previously must also be wondering if this tragedy could have been prevented if they had been more aggressive in pursuing charges against Mr. Loughner. Perhaps with a felony conviction he would never have been able to lawfully by the Glock 9mm Model 19 that he used to strike down the lives of six people and decimate 14 more. This was not an act of politics. This was an act of a mentally disturbed young man hell bent on getting his 15 minutes of infamy. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department was aware of his violent nature and they failed to act appropriately. This tragedy leads right back to Sherriff Dupnik and all the spin in the world is not going to change that fact.
rrjenn posted at 7:15 pm on Mon, Jan 10, 2011.
LinMesa says So, it's just the Republicans that are upset about his words.
I guess the lefty libertards (like you) just don't mind him saying the right did it.
rrjenn posted at 7:19 pm on Mon, Jan 10, 2011.
az2008 you should be sharing a room with Jared Loughner when they lock him up on the nut ward at the local nut house. Do you think the moon landing was a hoax and that Bush blew up the trade center buildings too? Jared Loughner does.
Norm posted at 8:31 pm on Mon, Jan 10, 2011.
I will be 74 shortly after the Sheriff turns 75.. I think the Pima County Sheriff is 100% right in his comments about the - well, let's call it a war (I WANTED to say non-violent), because that is what it is - between the far right and the far left of the political establishment in the US. The problem is, as I see it, that the far right and the far left are warring to control this country; the people in the middle, the moderate Republicans (like myself) and the conservative Democrats (like Ms. Giffords), as well as MOST of the people in the US, seem to have much too little say in what happens in this country. The vitriolic dialogue that takes place on a seemingly daily basis, with accusations and (presumed) threats has to stop.
madblogger posted at 9:57 pm on Mon, Jan 10, 2011.
Sheriff Clarence Dupnik needs to keep his big mouth shut. Nobody cares to hear his words of hate
Arizona Educator posted at 8:35 am on Tue, Jan 11, 2011.
Disgusted with the dishonesty and hippocrisy! Those who condemn Dupnik support the human hater, persecutor, and political Arpaio.
smarter1 posted at 10:54 am on Tue, Jan 11, 2011.
"He was considered by all to be very wise...until he opened his mouth and spoke."
rrjenn posted at 11:11 am on Tue, Jan 11, 2011.
Yup, we need another champion of the people like Sheriff Arpaio down in Pima County. Then maybe Tucson wouldn't be a sanctuary city anymore. Sheriff Dumbdick doesn't care about his citizenry as much as he cares about illegal aliens. We also need to get rid of Santa Cruz County Sheriff Antonio Estrada. He's another illegal alien lover.
percivale posted at 12:28 pm on Tue, Jan 11, 2011.
I am proud of the sheriff he spoke very well and say something that many people in the country is thinking ; we must become more polite towards each other and respectful of each ideas or we are doom as a nation . The outside dogs are looking in seeing us figth each other, America be careful barberians are at the gates !!
ElPeneDeCaballo posted at 12:29 pm on Tue, Jan 11, 2011.
This senile incompetent Sheriff Liberal needs to STFU. His office knew about the madman and did nothing, now he is trying to deflect the blame onto the thin air.
Liberals have once again made me thank God I am not one of them.
Most of them are miserable little traitors and should be deported.
mlimberg posted at 12:43 pm on Tue, Jan 11, 2011.
Listening to this moron it does not take long to understand why crime, human smuggling and drugs are such a big issue in Maricopa nd Pinal Counties.
If this guy did his job, this shooter would never have been permitted within a mile of a Congresswoman.
Sheriff Dupnik, you have the blood of all the victims on your hands.
onerebel posted at 8:54 pm on Tue, Jan 11, 2011.
So if you Liberals think it's OK for the Sheriff to exercise his right to free speech when victims were still in surgery, then I'm sure you support the group that plans on protesting at the funerals. If that would have been a republican shot and Sheriff Joe would have done the same you Libs would have been fit to be tied. Oh that's right that's different !
2bootslarue posted at 1:29 am on Wed, Jan 12, 2011.
Sheriff Dupnik, you are absolutely right, and millions stand behind you. It's time for the mealy-mouthed, politically correct fear of criticizing the Crazy Right to END! They are NOT the actual majority in the USA; they are only the rude, crude, loud ones.
Thank you so much for saying what so many of us are saying with you! God bless and protect you, Sir..
Mary D, Missouri
RecallDupnik posted at 3:03 pm on Mon, Jan 31, 2011.
How can he possibly defend comments directly against his departments policy? We would not expect his subordinates to survive if they violated policy so does he expect to survive?
Lets show our support and please visit http://recalldupnik.com